Thread: Safety Dave Camera

Originally Posted by Strop

BUT, wiring will have to come through the roof from the rear. I am assuming there is 12V available from the lights in the roof console area so that should be ok. My only concern with the car is the threading of the cables in the roof with the largish plugs on them.

Couple of suggestions, Laurie:
1. Power can be taken directly from the junction box behind the glovebox. Easy to feed to anywhere in the dash or up the A pillar. There are unused circuits both permanently and ignition powered to choose from. For example, my dashcam uses one circuit for permanent 12v supply and another for an ignition feed. But, if you choose an unfused redundant circuit, be sure to only power the piggy back fuse that you need. That is, the unpowered circuit remains unpowered.
2. The best way to feed a cable above the roof lining is to lower the chosen side of the lining. This way you can tape down the cables like the factory cables are and wrap them in foam at a few points so they don't rattle. Some people use a yellow tongue plastic joiner or similar to poke the cable through, so up to you. You'll need to remove the sun visor, A, B and C pillar trims plus the other side C pillar trim so you can lower the rear of the lining. All this means removing the rear lower panels, too which in turn means removing the door seals. Allocate plenty of time for this so you don't get frustrated and do any other jobs (like Traxide install, removing third row seat and seatbelts, compressor install, remove tow bar holder if unused, replace EAS inlet filter, trailer wire mods etc.) at the same time.
3. Get yourself a supply of trim clips as some plastic ones will break and some metal ones will disappear into a parallel universe.

As for wiring, I ran my cables through the gap under the door sill, the same as the rear anderson wiring. Then up the drivers side A pillar and on to the mirror via the sun visors.
My mirror came with a single multi wire plug that is positioned near the mirror. All the connections are done under the dash.

Originally Posted by BradC

Having driven a vehicle/van with both (on the same vehicle at the same time), there is absolutely no comparison. Not even close. With the cameras you don't even need the dumbo ears.

Legally, cameras are a "towing aid". If the trailer is wider than the car, extended mirrors are still a legal requirement.

I use a twin camera rear camera system - from "Safety Dave" - on my hybrid camper and love it. I have used them for many years and always go with the clip on screen on the rear view mirror so I just look where I normally do to see behind. It is terrifying how close some drivers are when you look in the screen. I had a motorcyclist who was so close all I could see was his helmet...

I have used a 6 sender "Safety Dave" TPMS but now I use an 8 sender one with a solar powered receiver/screen unit from "OBD2 Australia". No cables at all, so it is really easy to fit, can be mounted anywhere it gets light and it automatically senses when I have the trailer on or not. I use the extra two senders for spare tyres.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

Hi Laurie

I did this on my 2014 D4 to put the van camera on the main screen, thanks to Nod.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-disc...4=#post2489390

mine is the base model with Meridian sound upgrade. It has as standard a rear camera.
I am not sure of the applicability to your D4 however but it may give you some ideas.

The instructions are spot on!

Brilliant. It works beautifully. I used a link in the 12 pin plug as suggested to switch to the caravan camera when it is plugged in.

I did have to change the van camera to an NTSC one from Ebay.

There is an excellent instructional pdf at post #10

cheers

Peter

Originally Posted by Numb Thumbs

Legally, cameras are a "towing aid". If the trailer is wider than the car, extended mirrors are still a legal requirement.

Yep, I acknowledge that. I was responding to a poster who in a thread asking about cameras responds with "just get bigger mirrors".

Hi All, I guess we all have our own thoughts and ideas, so here are a few of mine. ( hope it helps )
1/ I agree that wireless is not as good as wired, but you can get some higher powered transmitters that work OK on vans. But the longer the van the more the signal degrades. but If it’s the only way to get cameras on the back of the van then that’s better than nothing. Remember you still have to run a power cable to them.
2/ I use Masten equipment from Dig Options Australia ( I have no affiliation or vested interest in them. I just like there products and service ) and have attached links for you to look at.
Also I tend to buy the parts separately as there appears to be NO large monitor and twin camera kit
3/ I have installed 4 setups over the last several years ( for friends and myself ) and have always used dual cameras that had viewing angles of 120 degree and 45 degree ( this latter angle gives a more natural view without distance distortion ) Also get CCD Image Sensors in the cameras NOT CMOS Image Sensors
4/ I also use a mirror mounted monitor BUT not those little narrow “Rear vision mirror with monitors” that are hard to look at but the LARGER 7” HD digital clip on rear-view monitor ( with 2 inputs ) because I find it natural to look up at the rear-view mirror to see what’s behind. And you do not obscure your vision with a large monitor on the dash.

This unit is very easy to put up when towing and take down when the van is disconnected. ( leaving you with your excellent Land Rover mirror )

You then need a dual cable or 2 singles ( long ones ) and a dual wozza kit for the van and another dual cable or 2 singles for the car ( shorter ones )

5/ And lots of time and effort to fit it all
7" HD Digital Clip On LCD Rearview mirror monitor with 2 Inputs (digoptions.com.au)
Truck Van Dual Reversing Sony CCD 700 Camera HD Rear View IR Caravan Black LED (digoptions.com.au) ( in Black or white )
2 Two Camera Woza Suzi Coil Spiral Hitch Cable 4metre 5-Pin Din Aviation Plug Video (digoptions.com.au)
15m 4-Pin Shielded Aviation Camera Extension Cable Twin Indus. Grade Plugs (digoptions.com.au) ( for inside the van but be aware that the picture is wrong – it has 2 plugs on each end of the cable )
Or you can use 2 single cables that are Longer or Shorter – and then
7.5m 4-Pin Shielded Camera Extension Cable Twin Aviation Industrial Grade Plugs (digoptions.com.au) ( for inside the car )
And probably 2 adapter cables to connect from the car cables to the monitor
Adapter 4-Pin Female to RCA Male RCA Camera to Extension Cable Aviation (digoptions.com.au)
And if you wanted to add up to 2 more cameras you could put a switch box between the cameras and monitor
4 Camera Quad View Switch Box Four-Channel Mirror Dash Mount Navigation Aviation One Screen (digoptions.com.au)
The possibilities are endless Regards Ken

Just to add, I power the cameras from my van tail lights. They're at the back already and I travel with the taillights on anyway.

I had a clipon in mirror screen, hard to see properly and lots of reflections. Just recently changed to a dedicated screen and vastly better.